It’s time for spring break! If you’re tired of the same couple of crowded beaches in Florida and are looking for a few more diverse choices, then you’ve come to the right place, fellow frequent flyers. We’ve consulted several online sources and our staff to help you with your plans. Thus, we now present the 17 best spring break destinations in the USA.

The 17 Best Spring Break Destinations in the USA

1. Moab, Utah

If you love nature and the outdoors and don’t enjoy beach sand in your bits, Moab in Utah is one of the best places to be for Spring Break. There’s a lot to do and see around Moab and the weather in March through April is great. During the day it’s generally sunny with temperatures somewhere between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Moab is especially great in the spring if you’re the outdoorsy type.  

It’s also quite budget-friendly since you will be spending most of your time outdoors. Some highlights here include the lesser-known Dead Horse Point State Park, and, of course, the Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Visitors interested in hiking should know that all of these parks feature hiking trails suitable for all skill levels. You can also go for ATV rides, mountain biking, rafting, take a scenic drive, and more!  

San Francisco is a lively place for spring break. The climate here is mild all year, but sunny with little rain in the spring. In fact, spring is the best time to visit.

In March and April, the temperature generally remains between 50 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Bring a jacket though, as the Bay Area can be windy this time of the year. The city is comparatively less crowded, and the place is even family-friendly if you have to take your kids with you.

San Francisco has something for everyone. The city includes a number of distinctly different neighborhoods and is a mix of the natural and the urban. Highlights here include Fisherman’s Wharf (especially Pier 39), barking sea lions, the Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, the Painted Ladies at Alamo Square Park, and Alcatraz Prison too.     

This is the place to experience the charm of “old Florida ambiance.” If you enjoy the beach but want to avoid drunken crowds, this is the place to be. It’s sunny and warm here but not too hot or humid. This is also one of the country’s best beaches.

Nestled in a historic district, this family-friendly area offers visitors more than pristine beaches and several unique museums. It also includes an assortment of eateries and activities. Some of the highlights here include the exotic, lush Sunken Gardens which come complete with friendly flamingos. There’s also the popular historic downtown St. Petersburg, the Dali Museum, dedicated to artist Salvador Dali, historic Fort De Soto Park, and the Great Explorations Children’s Museum. Be sure to ride the St. Petersburg Trolley, too, it’s fun and free!  

Oahu, Hawaii, is the birthplace of a US President and your rovin’ writer too! This tropical paradise comes complete with incredible resorts and beautiful beaches. The island state is rife with culture and history too.

The weather here in the spring is pretty good! It’s not as hot as it is in the summer and not as rain-soaked as it can be in the winter. Generally, it’s sunny with temperatures between 74 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit.

You can see everything here in one week if you plan accordingly. What’s more, since it’s reportedly the most populated island, You will score great deals on airfare, accommodations, and car rentals too. Highlights on family-friendly Oahu include Kualoa Ranch, the film location for “Lost”, Ala Moana, the world’s largest outdoor mall, Pearl Harbor, the Polynesian Cultural Center, and Waikiki Beach.

For those who have never been, Disneyland has two parks: the original Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. Yes, Disneyland is a family-friendly, happy place any season but if you visit in the month of March or April, you not only beat the summer tourists, but you can attend the popular, locally-focused Food and Wine Festival as well. Weather-wise, Anaheim is beautiful in Spring.

During the day the temperature is usually in the 70s (Fahrenheit), and at night a sweater or jacket will do it. Additionally, it is busy enough that attraction closures are kept to a minimum.

The previously-mentioned Food and Wine Festival is held in the Disney California Adventure Park so there’s no extra charge to explore the numerous food-and-drink-themed booths. You can even get a special “tasting passport” to record everything you sample there. There are also specific live performances at this time, so it’s almost like you’re getting “dinner” and a show. All the usual attractions are open too!

“Sin City” is a classic in contrast, offering both adult and family-friendly fun, indoor entertainment with great outdoor adventures not far from away. In the Spring you will beat both the summer tourists and the heat. Temperatures there fluctuate between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the month of March, 55 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit in April, and between 65 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit in May.  

The comparatively comfortable temperatures make sightseeing more fun. Travelers can take advantage of an assortment of special spring break deals on both activities and accommodations as well. Hike “The Strip”, a total of over four magical miles of flash and fancy.

Take advantage of all the resorts’ kid-friendly, free activities too. See the circus show at Circus Circus, the Flamingo’s wildlife habitat, the dancing fountains and botanical conservatory at Bellagio, and the Mirage’s erupting volcano. Visit the STRAT Tower, and dine at Dick’s Last Resort too!

If you’d like some shopping, history, and other outdoor activities with your spring break beach fun, this city has it all. The springtime weather can vary but daytime temperatures average about 70 degrees Fahrenheit from late March into April. No worries though, pack a jacket or sweater with your sunscreen and bathing suit.

There’s a lot to see and do here. Take a historic carriage tour, stop at City Market, Rainbow Row, and popular Waterfront Park. Other highlights here include Fort Sumter, the North Charleston Fire Museum, the Patriot’s Point Naval & Maritime Museum, and the numerous plantations as well. 

Traveling with your kids? See the SC Aquarium, the 400-year-old Angel Oak Tree, Sem Creek, and the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry. Foodies be sure to visit Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit, Magnolia’s, and SNOB (Slightly North of Broad).

If you love the sunshine but hope to avoid the college crowds, consider San Diego. While it’s a great place to visit any time, from March through May, San Diego’s temperature is usually between 54 and 69 degrees Fahrenheit. In early spring you might see some rain, but after that, it’s consistently warm and sunny.

This family-friendly place offers an enjoyable blend of activities, culture, history, and nature. Perhaps the most popular attractions here are Legoland, the San Diego Zoo, and SeaWorld. Balboa Park, however, is a more affordable stop.

It’s a large historic park that includes an artist village, theaters, and multiple museums. If you feel like having some fun in the sun, hit Mission Beach, LaJolla, or neighboring Coronado Beach. There’s also Old Town, Seaport Village, and for hikers, the Cabrillo National Monument, and Torrey Pines Natural Reserve.

The Rocky Mountains are an exceptional place to enjoy your spring break. The temperature during the day in March and April is usually between 38 and 43 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s perfect for hitting the slopes.  

You might get a little snow if the temperature drops a bit but there’ll be lots of sun for sure. A number of ski resorts aren’t far from the airport in Denver either.

Veteran visitors suggest such ski resorts as Copper Mountain, Keystone, Aspen, and Breckenridge. You can also hit the more modest resorts such as Arapahoe Basin and Loveland in Summit County. Accommodations are affordable and if you don’t ski, there are other winter activities available like snowboarding and snowshoeing. Be sure to take some time to stop and spend a day or two exploring Rocky Mountain National Park too. 

From Key West to Key Largo, the Florida Keys offer a number of different things to do for anyone and everyone. The weather here is great during the months of March and April. It’s not too hot for sightseeing but warm enough to hang out at the beach.  

You’ll enjoy beautiful sunny days with temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a great place for a family getaway as it comes complete with stunning beaches and lots of things to do.  

In fact, if you do go on spring break with your family, stay in the centrally-located Islamorada. Visit the Theater of the Sea and swim with the dolphins. Feed the tarpons as Robbie’s Marina. Other (ahem) key highlights include the Ernest Hemingway House, the Butterfly Conservatory, and the nearby popular Dry Tortugas National Park.  

New Orleans is all about fun, history, music, and food! Spring temperatures are generally in the 70s; warm enough for the beach or pool, and not too hot for sightseeing. Additionally, this is the time of year for festivals galore.

Sure, you miss must-see Mardi Gras, in February, but you can find enough drunk partiers in March for the various St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. In mid-March, you can attend the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience. Highlights here include the famous French Quarter, Jackson Square, and the nearby Oak Alley Plantation.  

After breakfast at Cafe Du Monde, see the unique architecture and historic sights via a hop-on hop-off bus. Be sure to have po’boys for lunch. Have a mint julep before dinner then hit one of the clubs that line Bourbon Street and enjoy some live jazz music too.      

This is a super spring break destination. St. George is also another fun, family-friendly place. Yes, in the summer it can be terribly hot here but in March the temperature here remains in the 70s.  

It’s sunny every day. Here you’ll find numerous free outdoor activities and a lot of low-cost accommodation options. Visit the north side of town and explore Pioneer Park complete with gullies, arches, and large sandstone rocks perfect for climbing.  

Head for the exceptional Upper Galoot area, and hike the Lava Tube Loop in stunning Snow Canyon State Park. If you enjoy watersports, the local area includes a number of lakes, waterfalls, reservoirs, waterfalls, and fun swimming holes. Here you can go boating, kayaking, jet skiing, paddle boarding, and (naturally) swimming. Take a day trip to Zion National Park too!

The archipelago of islands off North Carolina’s coast not only offers assorted outdoor activities, beaches, and a charming atmosphere. Temperatures here range from 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit in the spring. Spring is also the off-season so there are fewer tourists and beach-adjacent accommodations are affordable.

This is where the famous Wright Brothers built and flew the first aircraft. Thus, you pretty much are required to see the well-known Wright Brothers Memorial. Explore the 200 miles of coastline as well.

Stroll along the beaches, climb the sand dunes, and visit a few of the various lighthouses: the Bodie Island Lighthouse, the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, and the nigh-famous Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Give your feet a rest and cruise the Outer Banks Scenic Byway as well. You will undoubtedly enjoy the views.

Central Texas’ family-friendly Texas Hill Country slots in as one of our best spring break destinations for several reasons including the weather. Spring temperatures here are between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the months of March and April. Again, it’s fine for outdoor activities and not quite too hot to go see the sights.

Spring is the bluebonnet season all across the state. Nature lovers will enjoy the blossoming flowers, gentle, flowing rivers, rolling hills, and assorted swimming holes as well. Here you can visit waterfalls, go camping, hiking, mountain biking, and even horseback riding.

Regular readers may recall that river tubing is also a favorite outdoor activity here. The small towns here are also great for romantic getaways. Highlights here include historic Downtown Brenham, bluebonnet-filled Marble Falls, and a host of local wineries.

If you’ve been to Oahu but want to do spring break in Hawaii again, visit Maui. In the months of March and April, the temperature remains steadily in the low 70s. There are significant differences in temperatures though if you visit specific parts of the island.  

For example, the temperature at the volcano is a lot different than on the beach. Much like Oahu, Maui offers a memorable mix of beautiful beaches, lovely, lush landscapes, outdoor activities, local traditions, and culture. Attend a traditional Hawaiian feast known as a luau.

Cruise the scenic Road to Hana, which is highlighted by waterfalls and stunning coastal scenery. See the sunrise from atop a volcano at Haleakala National Park, Need more? You can bike or even zip-line down the volcano too. You can snorkel and go swimming with turtles as well.

Tired of the college crowds at the beach? Head to Orlando, home of Disney World. A family-friendly world all its own, it contains four individual theme parks, the Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, Hollywood Studios, and the Animal Kingdom. There’s also a pair of water parks, more than two dozen resorts, a number of restaurants, and the super shopping center known as Disney Springs.

Daytime temperatures top off somewhere between 76 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit. There’s significantly less rain than in the summer too. There’s something for everyone here.

There are rides, and entertaining characters and even the food is better than in other theme parks. There’s also an aquarium, a zoo, and educational, interactive exhibits. Don’t miss the Star Wars and Toy Story areas either! It can be busy though so plan your visit before you go.

Last but certainly not least, on our list of 17 best spring destinations is the world-famous Grand Canyon. Trust your rovin’ writer who hiked this natural wonder rim-to-rim in the summer, while any time you get to visit this place is good, spring is as good as it will get. Spring weather here is generally dry and the average temperature ranges from between 53 and 61 degrees Fahrenheit at the South Rim and it’s significantly warmer in the canyon itself.  

Even though it’s still a busy place, you will beat the sometimes dangerous heat and the summer tourists too! Spring is perfect for hiking and sightseeing. If you’re not ready to hike the entire canyon, the main viewpoints are at the South Rim and the Grand Canyon Skywalk is at Grand Canyon West! Check it out!